Officers to be disciplined over Klan photo

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Several army officers will be disciplined after an investigation
into an episode in which 21 white soldiers wearing Ku Klux
Klan-style hoods were photographed with four dark-skinned soldiers
sitting in front of them.

Those to be disciplined include the officer who dismissed the
incident at Townsville's Lavarack Barracks in September 2000 as a
tasteless prank after earlier holding an inquiry.

The photograph was taken three weeks before Delta Company of the
First Royal Australian Regiment was sent to East Timor. One of the
victims of the joke later tried to hang himself at the barracks,
blaming racial bullying.

The investigating officer from the regiment interpreted racial
insults as "jovial banter" and the army decided that while the
picture was in poor taste, no further action was required. The army
later sent some of the soldiers involved for equity and diversity
training and said some soldiers had written apologies.

Once the photograph was revealed in media reports, Defence Force
chief Peter Cosgrove ordered a new inquiry to be headed by
Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy.

Army chief General Leahy said yesterday that administrative and
disciplinary action would be taken against a number of
officers.

"The Australian Army takes any incident of harassment or
discrimination very seriously," he said. "This type of behaviour
has no place in the army. We cannot, should not and will not
tolerate it," he said.

"In particular, disciplinary and/or administrative action will
be pursued against the officer who organised the photograph, the
officer to whom the incident was reported and the officer who
conducted the original inquiry."

General Leahy said the army was also acting to reinforce its
equity and diversity policy and would review its equity
training.

"Action will be taken to improve the performance of inquiry
officers who are involved in sensitive inquiries through better
training and support."

General Leahy said that any other personnel who believed they
may have been subjected to any form of harassment or discrimination
should report it so it could be investigated.

"This type of behaviour by a few individuals should in no way
devalue the excellent work undertaken by the vast majority of
personnel within the army."